Gandhi

Mohandas K. Gandhi begins as a quietly determined lawyer who gradually rejects the comforts of the life he was trained to lead and commits himself to a wider cause. The film tracks his transformation from a solitary figure into a leader who organizes mass movements against British rule, insisting on nonviolent civil disobedience as a political strategy. It shows the way Gandhi builds popular support through symbolic acts and disciplined protest, how his methods provoke both admiration and violent pushback, and how ordinary people are drawn into a campaign that reshapes India’s political landscape, all while keeping personal sacrifice and moral conviction at the center.

Released in 1982, Richard Attenborough directed this biopic, with a screenplay by John Briley based on Gandhi's life, and Ben Kingsley starring in the title role.

Gandhi won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Attenborough, and Best Actor for Ben Kingsley. Those wins helped cement the film's reputation as a landmark historical drama and brought wide recognition to its principal cast and creative team.

The movie renewed popular attention to Gandhi's tactics, with scenes like the Salt March and the large public funeral becoming widely referenced. Its visual portrayal of nonviolent protest and colonial confrontation entered classrooms and documentaries, shaping how many people around the world imagine Gandhi and the independence movement.

Critics generally praised Kingsley's performance and the film's sweeping scale, while viewers noted its detailed period recreation. With a vote average of 7.559/10 from 2,441 votes, the film is often discussed for themes of colonialism, moral authority, leadership, and the practical limits of nonviolent resistance in the face of state power.